Beachy & Jevington (16 November)

Sunday 16th.  I met John King at Birling at 07.30 and we spent over four hours wandering around there and Belle Tout dodging showers.  For the time of year there were more birds than we expected to be honest although still not a great deal to write home about.  I saw Grey Heron, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, 2 Peregrines, 4 Stock Doves, 3400+ Wood Pigeons (in big flocks heading east), 2 Tawny Owls, Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Swallow (also heading east), 19 Wrens (they seemed to be everywhere), 3 Black Redstart (all at Birling), 7 Stonechats, 3 Song Thrushes, Dartford Warbler, 2 Blackcaps, Chiffchaff, 8+ Goldcrests (2 at Birling and 6+ in Belle Tout), Siskin (the first I've seen this autumn), 470 Golfinches (small flocks flying east) and a Corn Bunting.  At Jevington the Rough-legged Buzzard was still performing but was rather too mobile for easy digiscoping.  The Stock Dove flock was still present too.

Wood Pigeons on the move - about 300 here

threatening skies over Birling

Dartford Warbler at Beachy, the same bird we'd seen the previous weekend

Tawny Owl in Belle Tout Wood, the most in the open I've seen one all autumn

not looking overly concernd by the attentions of 3 Magpies

Rough-legged Buzzard at Jevington, an excellent find for Chris Ball

it hovered a lot, which was the only time I could mange to digiscope it

it always hovered into the wind and directly facing us

hopefully it will remain all winter

Saturday 15th.  A morning around the Adur seeing little other than the usual (for this winter) Shelduck and Curlew, my first sighting of Herring Gull A2FA for two years and a Chiffchaff. A2FA had been ringed as an orphan in Hastings in August 2003.  An afternoon walk on Beeding Brooks with Megan was much more interesting produced Barn Owl, 2 Stonechats, 6 Fieldfare, 2 Redwings and a Cetti's Warbler.

Wednesday 12th.  Martyn Kenefick phoned late morning to ask if I fancied a long lunch hour as he was going to look for the juvenile Rough-legged Buzzard found by Chris Ball near Jevington.  It didn't take me long to decide that what I was doing could wait.  The bird performed very nicely although as I only had 8x20 bins with me the use of Roger Charlwood's telescope was greatly appreciated.  A flock of about 200 Stock Doves was also present.

Monday 10th.  Peregrine and Rock Pipit at Southwick on my way to work.